Health Minister opens $67m Whakatane Hospital

Health Minister Tony Ryall today
officially opened the $67 million Whakatane Hospital
redevelopment which future-proofs health services in the
Eastern Bay of Plenty.

“This is truly one of the best
days in my time as Minister of Health and MP for the Bay of
Plenty. It is fantastic to see our government's 2008
election commitment fulfilled on-time and on-budget” says
Mr Ryall.

“With a bigger footprint, more hospital beds,
and extra services, this new building will ensure the 50,000
people living in the region continue to receive high quality
health care for many years to come.

“The new building
includes three state-of-the-art operating theatres, a larger
emergency department, a modern radiology department, bigger
inpatient wards, an acute care unit for patient observations
and a 10-bed children’s ward.

“As demand increases
there is room to grow. Currently 38 medical and surgical
ward beds are open, but there is space for 61 beds in the
future.

“Thanks to the input from doctors, nurses,
allied health professionals and patients, the building has
been designed to improve patient care.

“In the old
Stanton Block the emergency department, intensive care unit,
CT scanner and radiology department were all located on
different floors. These services are now located
together.

Mr Ryall says this new building makes it easier
for staff to provide better, faster, and more convenient
care for patients.

"The Eastern Bay has great health
services and very good staff here at the hospital. Both of
my children were born here and I am very confident about the
future of healthcare in this region under a National
Government.

“This government has invested around $1
billion into capital projects for district health boards and
we will continue to invest more money to upgrade public
hospitals.

“This includes the $83 million revamp at
Rotorua Hospital, the new $190 million clinical services
block at Middlemore Hospital, the $80 million Taranaki
Hospital upgrade and the $27 million East Wing redevelopment
at Tauranga Hospital,” says Mr
Ryall.

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